How good it would be if He came tonight!" At the sound of voices I looked up from the book I was reading. "If who came tonight?" I wondered. Were we about to have company?
Then I realized that they were speaking of Jesus and my instant reaction was, "Oh, no! It would not be good if He came tonight. I am not ready to meet Him!"
I knew well that Jesus is coming back again, and I knew that only those whose sins are forgiven will go to be with Him and that those who are not ready will be left behind for judgment. But—"coming tonight!" Somehow I hadn't even thought that possible. And as for death, I was young and would live for many years.
After thinking it over for a few minutes I decided, "There's plenty of time," and turned back to my book. But I could not get interested in it again; the words, "Coming tonight! Coming tonight!" kept ringing in my ears.
Those words just stayed with me, and instead of getting rid of the feeling I began to realize the danger I was in. I used to think I was no worse than others, and a great deal better than some, and though I knew I was not saved I really meant to be—some day. But what if that were true: He's coming tonight! Many nights I lay awake, afraid to go to sleep for fear that Jesus should come in the night and leave me behind.
I went to a gospel meeting. Usually I had been glad to slip away as quickly as possible, but that night I listened to every word as if for my life. Afterward a man said to me, "Do you know Jesus?"
I admitted that I didn't, but said I would like to!
He opened the Bible and read: He was wounded for [my] transgressions, He was bruised for [my] iniquities: the chastisement of [my] peace was upon Him; and with His stripes [I am] healed. (Isa. 53:5.)
That night I learned that Jesus had died, but I could not say that I was saved. I tried to feel saved, and to act saved, but I did not really know. This went on for weeks. On Sundays I was hoping; on Mondays I was doubting. At last I was almost despairing of ever knowing the peace I longed for.
Finally I shut myself in my room and told Jesus I had tried to make myself better and I had failed. Would He just take me as I was? As I knelt there in the deep consciousness that I was in the presence of God, the words from Isaiah came into my mind: I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. (Isa. 43:1.)
This time I did not doubt; I just believed God. Joy—such joy as I cannot describe nor can you understand unless you have experienced it yourself—filled my heart. I wanted everybody to know that Jesus was my very own personal Savior!
Now I know more surely than ever that Jesus is coming, coming soon, but still in love and mercy He is waiting for you to come to Him and trust Him also.
The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven... and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. (1 Thess. 4:16, 17.)